Decorative supporting hook assembly



Nov. 9, 1965 T. J. MUSANTE 3,216,680

DECORATIVE SUPPORTING HOOK ASSEMBLY Filed April 15, 1964 7710/14/25 J Mus/W7:

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United States Patent M 3,216,680 DECORATIVE SUPPORTING HOOK ASSEMBLY Thomas J. Musante, Newark, N.J., assignor to Necessa Products Company, East Orange, N.J., a partnership Filed Apr. 15, 1964, Ser. No. 359,863 Ciaims. (Cl. 248-32) This invention relates to an improved decorative supporting hook assembly for supporting pictures, mirrors, clocks, barometers and like objects.

Conventional hooks for hanging pictures and the like are usually provided with a hook at one end and a loop at the other having aperture through which a nail may be driven at an angle into the wall. This prevents an unsightly appearance when a picture is hung. If the picture supporting wire is shortened to raise the picture and hide the hook, difliculty is experienced in hanging the picture or mirror as the case may be. No means have previously been provided for securing the hook to a wall except by nail or screw.

It is an object of this invention to provide an improved decorative supporting hook assembly which can be supported either by adhesive means or by nail and in which the supporting portion of the hook can be hidden by a detachable decorative medallion or cover piece.

Briefly, in accordance with my invention, a decorative supporting hook assembly made in accordance with this invention includes a flat plate element having a hook extending therefrom and outwardly of one surface of the plate. The plate is provided with a pair of oppositely disposed fingers which can be flexed and having dimples extending toward each other. A decorative medallion or cover plate is provided on its flat back surface with a pair of elongated oppositely disposed coextensive recesses into which the fingers are received. The spacing of the recesses is such that when the cover is forced onto the fingers they are flexed outwardly, the dimples frictionally gripping the cover. The plate may be provided with an aperture through which a nail may be inserted to secure the hook to a wall. The back surface of the cover may also be provided with a recess for receiving a projecting nail head.

Referring to the drawings,

FIG. 1 is a front elevation of a decorative supporting hook assembly made according to my invention;

FIG. 2 is a view of the plate and hook with the decorative cover or medallion removed;

FIG. 3 is a side view of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a back view of the decorative cover showing details of construction;

FIG. 5 is a section taken along the line 55 of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 6 is a section taken along the line 65 of FIG. 1.

Referring to the figures in the drawing, a decorative supporting hook assembly includes a back or supporting plate 10 having a hook member 11 extending from one edge thereof and from one face of the plate. Extending from one surface of the plate are the fingers 12 and 13. These fingers have resiliency and are provided with the inwardly directed fingers 14 and 15 having a function to be described. The plate 10 may also be provided with the aperture 16 through which a supporting nail may be extended if a nail is to be used.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 to 6 inclusive, the cover or medallion 20 is provided with a pair of elongated oppositely disposed coextensive recesses 21 and 22 which receive the fingers 12 and 13. The recesses are deep enough to receive the entire length of the fingers so that the medallion lies substantially flat against a supporting surface. The recesses are so spaced that the dimples frictionally grip the medallion or cover, the fingers being flexed outwardly when the cover is snapped over the fingers. The

Patented Nov. 9, 1965 recesses 12 and 13 are elongated to permit adjustment of the medallion with respect to plate 10.

The cover 20 is provided with a further recess 23 into which a protruding nail head of a supporting nail may be received if a nail is used with the plate. Alternatively, adhesive may be applied to the back of plate 10. One square inch of plate surface is capable of supporting a two pound load. The amount of material necessary for the medallion may be reduced by providing recesses such as 24, 25 and 26.

A decorative supporting hook made according to this invention can be used for supporting pictures, clocks, plates, barometers, planters, lamps, placques, and various other pendant elements. The recesses in the medallion permit adjustment of the medallion vertically and permits switching of medallions of different design. The medallion and plate can of course be made of different materials.

What is claimed is:

1. A decorative supporting hook assembly including a plate having a hook extending therefrom, said plate having a pair of oppositely disposed resilient fingers extending normal to one surface of said plate, said fingers having oppositely disposed dimples extending toward each other, a decorative cover piece overlying said plate while exposing said hook and having in one surface thereof oppositely disposed coextensive parallel recesses into which said fingers are inserted for releasably engaging said cover piece, said recesses being spaced such that the dimples on said fingers resiliently and separably grip said decorative cover piece when said fingers are inserted in said recesses.

2. A decorative supporting hook assembly including a plate having a hook extending therefrom, said plate having a pair of oppositely disposed resilient fingers extending normal to one surface of said plate, and a decorative cover piece overlying said plate while exposing said hook and having in one surface thereof oppositely disposed parallel recesses into which said fingers are inserted for releasably and resiliently engaging said cover piece.

3. A decorative supporting hook assembly including a plate having a hook extending therefrom, said plate having a pair of oppositely disposed resilient fingers extend-' ing normal to one surface of said plate, said fingers having oppositely disposed dimples extending toward each other, said plate having an aperture therein through which a nail may be extended to fasten said plate to a supporting surface, a decorative cover piece overlying said plate and aperture while exposing said hook and having in one surface thereof oppositely disposed parallel recesses into which said fingers are inserted for releasably and resiliently engaging said cover piece, said cover piece having a recess for receiving the end of a supporting nail in registry with said aperture when said plate is fastened to a supporting surface.

4. A decorative supporting hook assembly including a plate having a hook extending therefrom, said plate having a pair of oppositely disposed resilient fingers extending normal to one surface of said plate, said fingers having oppositely disposed dimples extending toward each other, a decorative cover piece overlying said plate while exposing said hook and having in one surface thereof oppositely disposed coextensive parallel recesses into which said fingers are inserted for releasably and resiliently engaging said cover piece.

5. A decorative supporting hook assembly including a plate having a hook ex tndeing therefrom, said plate hav ing a pair of oppositely disposed flexible resilient fingers extending normal to one surface of said plate, said fingers having oppositely disposed dimples extending toward each other, said plate having an aperture therein through which a nail may be extended to fasten said plate to a supporting surface, a decorative cover piece overlying said plate and aperture while exposing said hook and having in one surface thereof oppositely disposed coextensive parallel recesses into which said fingers are inserted for releasably and resiliently engaging said cover piece, said cover piece having a recess for receiving the end of a supporting nail in registry with said aperture When said plate is fastened to a supporting surface, said recesses being spaced so that the dimples on said fingers frictionally grip said cover piece when said fingers are inserted in said recesses, said recesses having a depth to receive said fingers to a degree whereby said cover piece may lie flat against a supporting surface.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 238,621 3/81 Walker 248223 5 332,198 12/85 Gridley 248304 2,980,878 4/61 Swengel 33917 FOREIGN PATENTS 693,363 7/40 Germany.

10 CLAUDE A. LE ROY, Primary Examiner.

FRANK L. ABBOTT, Examiner. 

2. A DECORATIVE SUPPORTING HOOK ASSEMBLY INCLUDING A PLATE HAVING A HOOK EXTENDING THEREFROM, SAID PLATE HAVING A PAIR OF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED RESILIENT FINGERS EXTENDING NORMAL TO ONE SURFACE OF SAID PLATE, AND A DECORATIVE COVER PIECE OVERLYING SAID PLATE WHILE EXPOSING SAID HOOK AND HAVING IN ONE SURFACE THEREOF OPPOSITELY DISPOSED PARALLEL RECESSES INTO WHICH SAID FINGERS ARE INSERTED FOR RELEASABLY AND RESILIENTLY ENGAGING SAID COVER PIECE. 